Mist Producing Device for Playground with Sun Shade Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A play set with a mist device which includes a mist frame unit supported through a framework of the play set. The mist frame unit has a hollow body allowing water passage and comprises a flexible hose member mounted onto the framework, wherein a portion of the flexible hose member is constructed into a hose ring encircling a slide unit; a water inlet provided at a first end of the mist frame unit for connecting to a water source; and a plurality of mist producing units provided along the mist frame unit arranged for producing mist such that a preset mist surrounding area is defined within which the play set is located, therefore the mist can reach all play units of the play set, including the slide unit through the hose ring at an angle which is greater than 270°, thereby providing a cooling effect to the mist surrounding area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation application that claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §119 to a non-provisional application, application Ser.No. 14/264,026, filed Apr. 28, 2014, which is a Continuation applicationthat claims the benefit of priority 35 U.S.C. §119 to a non-provisionalapplication, application Ser. No. 13/385,554, filed Feb. 24, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a mist device for playground, and moreparticularly to a mist producing device for playground with sunshadeapparatus which is capable of spraying mist around a play set of theplayground area.

2. Description of Related Arts

A play set is usually located outdoor for providing a play area to kids.For example, a play set may include a swing, a slide and some climbingarea. During summer time, the temperature is high and the sunlight isstrong. Therefore it is not really enjoyable to play under hightemperature and strong sunlight conditions. In addition, it is notreally safe to play outdoor under the sun when the temperature is highand the sunlight is strong. Accordingly, there is a need to solve theproblem of high temperature and strong sunlight for the play area.

A play set is common in backyard or front yard. The play set may includedifferent play units and have very different construction. Additionalstructure to protect kids against high temperature and sunlight has tobe flexible enough for fitting into different play set construction soas to fit the particular need of a user. In addition, some play units,such as a slide unit of a play set, does not provide any side or topsupporting structure. Accordingly, it is difficult to have anyaccessories from the top or from the side.

A sunshade may be provided to the shade the play set. However, if thesunshade is a separate structure, it is not possible to fit perfectlyfor the play set, which is usually not having a very round orrectangular setting. As the play set may utilize an area of L-shaped orirregular shape, conventional sunshade, which is usually rectangular orround in shape, will not be able to fit the play set for use.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a mist producingdevice to a play set such that mist is provided to cover the playgroundarea in which the play set is located.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a mist producing deviceto a play set which is capable of providing mist to the play set atdifferent angles or directions.

Another advantage of the invention is to a mist producing device whichcan be added to any existing play sets for providing mist to cover theplayground area in which the play set is located.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a mist producing devicewhich includes a flexible hose member constructed into a hose ring suchthat a slide unit of the play set can be surrounded by the hose ring at360° and having mist provided to the slide unit at all directions.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a play set with a mistproducing device and a sunshade unit so that the outdoor environment atwhich the play set is located is cooled and shaded.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a play set with a mistproducing device and a sunshade unit so that kids are protected againstdirect sunlight and high temperature and therefore can play safely inthe outdoor environment at which the play set is located.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the description which follows, and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appendedclaims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are attained by a mist device for a play set having at leastone play unit in a playground area, comprising:

a mist frame unit supported through a framework of the play unit,wherein the mist frame unit has a hollow and elongated body allowingwater passage;

a water inlet provided at a first end of the mist frame unit arrangedfor connecting to a water source;

a plurality of mist producing units provided along the mist frame unitarranged for producing mist over the playground area such that a presetmist surrounding area is defined within which the play set is located,thereby providing a cooling effect to the mist surrounding area for theplay set in the playground area.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the presentinvention comprises a play set with a mist device, wherein the play setincludes at least a slide unit and a swing unit, comprising:

a mist frame unit supported through a framework of the play set, whereinthe mist frame unit has a hollow body allowing water passage andcomprises a flexible hose member mounted onto the framework of the playset, wherein a portion of the flexible hose member is constructed into ahose ring encircling the slide unit in such a manner that the slide unitis surrounded by the hose ring;

a water inlet provided at a first end of the mist frame unit arrangedfor connecting to a water source; and

a plurality of mist producing units provided along the mist frame unitarranged for producing mist such that a preset mist surrounding area isdefined within which the play set is located, therefore the mist canreach both the slide unit through the hose ring at an angle which isgreater than 270° and the swing unit, thereby providing a cooling effectto the mist surrounding area.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a play set with mist producing device andsunshade unit according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a mist frame unit according to the abovepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a structural frame formed by the mist frameunit according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a universal detachable mist frame unitaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations of a connector unit according to theabove preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a play set with mist producing device andsunshade unit which shows the hose ring construction of the mist frameunit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings, a mist producing deviceaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated. The mist producing device 10 is arranged for providing mistto a play set 20 which includes at least one play unit 200 in aplayground area and is supported through a framework 22 of the play set20 for the play units 200.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the play set 20includes one slide unit 202, two swing units 204, one swing bar unit 206and one trampoline unit 208 and the mist producing device 10 is providedon the framework 22 of the play set 20 for providing mist to thedifferent play units 200.

The mist producing device 10 comprises a mist frame unit 12 having anelongated and hollow body 122 opened at a first end 124 and defining awater channel 126 which allows water passage; a water inlet 14 providedat the first end 124 arranged for connecting to a water source such thatwater is flowing to the water channel 126 of the mist frame unit 12 fromthe water inlet 14 through the first end 124; and a plurality of mistproducing units 16 on the body 122 of the mist frame unit 12 such thatwater flowing to the water channel 126 is sprayed outside the waterchannel 126 through the mist producing units 16 and a preset mistsurrounding area is defined through the mist producing units 16 withinwhich the play set 20 is located and a cooling effect is providedthrough the mist produced by the mist producing units 16. Preferably, awater control 15 is further provided at the water inlet 14 arrangedturning on and off the water inlet 14 through opening and closing thewater inlet 14 respectively for controlling a water flow to the waterchannel 126. Preferably, the mist producing unit 16 is a nozzle providedon mist producing device 10.

Preferably, the elongated and hollow body 122 of the mist frame unit 12is a rigid frame member 1221 which is mounted onto the framework 22 ofthe play set 20. Therefore, the mist frame unit 12 is integrally formedonto the framework 22 of the play set 20.

Preferably, the elongated and hollow body 122 of the mist frame unit 12is a flexible hose member 1222 detachably mounted onto the framework 22of the play set 20. Therefore, the mist frame unit 12 is capable ofbeing detachable from the framework 22 of the play set 20 forrepositioning or replacement.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the elongated andhollow body 122 of the mist frame unit 12 comprises both the rigid framemember 1221 and the flexible hose member 1222 so as to fit intodifferent parts of the framework 22 of the play set 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, preferably, a pluralityof connector units 18 are provided for mounting the elongated and hollowbody 122 of the mist frame unit 12 onto the framework 22 of the play set20. The connector unit 18 comprises a frame connecting member 182connecting to the framework 22 and a mist connecting member 184connecting to the mist frame unit 12.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the connector units 18 has adouble-ring structure in which a first ring structure defines the frameconnecting member 182 through which a tube-like structure of theframework 22 of the play set 20 is penetrated such that the frameconnecting member 182 is secured into position and a second ringstructure defines the mist connecting member 184 through which theelongated and hollow body 122 of the mist frame unit 12 is penetratedsuch that the mist frame unit 12 is secured into position relative tothe framework 22 of the play set 20. Accordingly, the rigid frame member1221 of the mist frame unit 12 is securely mounted onto the framework 22of the play set 20.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the mist connecting member184 of the connector units 18 is a hose receiving member at a center ofthe connector unit 18 arranged for receiving the flexible hose member1222 and the frame connecting member 182 of the connector member 18 is aframework biasing member extended from the hose receiving member at thecenter outwardly to two sides defining two end portions of the frameworkbiasing member such that the framework biasing member is capable ofbiasing against a rod-like body of the framework 22 of the play set 20to anchor and secure the flexible hose member 1222 in the hose receivingmember onto the framework 22 through a biasing effect provided by thetwo sides of the framework biasing member and a clipping effect providedby the two end portions of the framework biasing member.

Accordingly, though the provision of the mist connecting members 184,the mist frame unit 12 which consists of the flexible hose member 1221only is universal and applicable to any play set through the connectorunits 18. In other words, the mist producing device 10 can be detachablymounted onto any play set 20 as desired and addition of the mistproducing device 10 to any existing play set is made possible.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B of the drawings, the connectorunit 18 further comprise a connector opening 186 provided in the hosereceiving member 184 which is sized to fit one mist producing unit 16,thereby the flexible hose member 1222 is supported through the hosereceiving member 184 while the mist producing unit 16 on the hosereceiving member 184 is exposed through the connector opening 186 at thecenter of the connector unit 18.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5B, the connector unit 8 further comprise alock member 188 provided at the two end portions arranged for lockingthe two end portions into position in a detachable manner. For example,the lock member 188 can be a clip-lock.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the rigid frame member 1221 of themist frame unit 12 is constructed into a structural frame which iscapable of providing adequate support to one or more play units or theplay set. In other words, the structural frame which is formed by therigid frame member 1221 of the mist frame unit 12 can also beconstructed to form the framework 22 of the play set 20.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, the flexible hose member 1222 isconstructed into a hose ring 12221 arranged for encircling the play unit200 in such a manner that the play unit 200 is surrounded by the hosering 200. Accordingly, the mist producing units 16 on the hose ring12221 of the flexible hose member 1222 are surrounding the play unit 200for providing mist to the play unit 200 covering at least 270° of thearea of the play unit 200.

It is worth mentioning that the slide unit 202, in general, does nothave any supporting structure provided on top and it is not possible toprovide any additional shade structure or mist producing device 10through the supporting structure which is provided below the slide unit202. Therefore, the flexible hose member 1222 which is of sufficientflexibility to form the hose ring 12221, supported through the bottomsupporting structure of the slide unit 202, is capable of providing mistto the slide unit 202 at all direction. In other words, a user will beable to receive the mist from all directions while sliding down from theslide unit 202.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a sunshade unit 19 is furtherprovided and mounted onto the play set 20 for shading the play set 20.The sunshade unit 19 can be mounted onto the play set 20 through theframework 22 of the play set 20. Alternately, the sunshade unit 19 mayalso be supported through the rigid frame member 1221.

Accordingly, the play set 20 is shaded from direct sunlight whilecovering by the mist from the mist producing device 10. In other words,a cool and shaded outdoor environment is provided for the play set 20.

Preferably, the mist producing unit 16 further comprises a mist control161 on the mist producing unit 16 arranged for adjusting a mist patternproduced by the mist producing unit 16.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a play set 20 with a mistproducing device 10 and/or a sunshade unit 19 in a cool and/or shadedoutdoor environment. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings,the the play set 20 includes one slide unit 202, two swing units 204,one swing bar unit 206 and one trampoline unit 208 which are all coveredby the mist producing device 10. In other words, kids or users can playin the outdoor environment which is cool and shaded. Therefore, duringsummer time when the temperature is very high and the sunlight is verystrong, it is still safe to play within the area in the play set.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mist device for a play set which comprises aframework on a playground area, comprising: a mist frame unit forcoupling at and extending along said framework of said play set, whereinsaid mist frame unit has a water channel; a water inlet provided at afirst end of said mist frame unit arranged for connecting to a watersource and enabling water flowing from said water source through saidwater channel of said mist frame unit; a plurality of mist producingunits provided along said mist frame unit defining a mist surroundingarea for producing mist over the playground ; and means for couplingsaid mist frame unit to said framework of said play set is such a mannerthat mist is produced by said mist producing units at said mistsurrounding area over the playground.
 2. The mist device, as recited inclaim 1, further comprising a sunshade unit mounted onto said play setfor shading said play set.
 3. The mist device, as recited in claim 1,further comprising at least a mist control for adjusting a mist patternproduced by said mist producing units.
 4. The mist device, as recited inclaim 2, further comprising at least a mist control for adjusting a mistpattern produced by said mist producing units.
 5. The mist device, asrecited in claim 1, wherein said mist frame unit comprises a flexiblehose member detachably mounted onto the framework of the play set,thereby said mist frame unit is detachable from and repositionable inthe framework of the play set.
 6. The mist device, as recited in claim2, wherein said mist frame unit comprises a flexible hose memberdetachably mounted onto the framework of the play set, thereby said mistframe unit is detachable from and repositionable in the framework of theplay set.
 7. The mist device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said mistframe unit comprises a flexible hose member detachably mounted onto theframework of the play set, thereby said mist frame unit is detachablefrom and repositionable in the framework of the play set.
 8. The mistdevice, as recited in claim 5, said means comprises a plurality ofconnector units connecting said flexible hose member and the frameworkof the play set, thereby said flexible hose member is universal andapplicable to any play set through securing into position by saidconnector unit.
 9. The mist device, as recited in claim 7, said meanscomprises a plurality of connector units connecting said flexible hosemember and the framework of the play set, thereby said flexible hosemember is universal and applicable to any play set through securing intoposition by said connector unit.
 10. The mist device, as recited inclaim 9, wherein each said connector unit comprises a hose receivingmember at a center of said connector unit arranged for receiving saidflexible hose member; and a framework biasing member extended from saidhose receiving member at the center outwardly to two sides defining twoend portions of said framework biasing member such that said frameworkbiasing member is capable of biasing a rod-like body of the framework ofthe play set to anchor and secure said flexible hose member in said hosereceiving member onto said framework through a biasing effect providedby said two sides of said framework biasing member and a clipping effectprovided by said two end portions of said framework biasing member. 11.The mist device, as recited in claim 11, wherein each said connectorunit further comprises a connector opening provided in said hosereceiving member which is sized to fit one said mist producing unit,thereby said flexible hose member is supported through said hosereceiving member while said mist producing unit on said hose receivingmember is exposed through said connector opening at the center of saidconnector unit.
 12. The mist device, as recited in claim 1, wherein saidmist is to said play unit at an angle which is greater than 270°.
 13. Aplay set with a mist device, comprising: a framework for providing on aplayground; a mist frame unit for coupling at and extending along saidframework of said play set, wherein said mist frame unit has a waterchannel; a water inlet provided at a first end of said mist frame unitarranged for connecting to a water source and enabling water flowingfrom said water source through said water channel of said mist frameunit; and a plurality of mist producing units provided along said mistframe unit arranged for producing mist such that a mist surrounding areais defined within which the play set is located, therefore the mist isable to reach said mist surrounding area at an angle which is greaterthan 270°, thereby providing a cooling effect to the mist surroundingarea.
 14. The play set, as recited in claim 13, further comprising asunshade unit mounted onto said play set for shading said play set. 15.The play set, as recited in claim 13, further comprising at least a mistcontrol for adjusting a mist pattern produced by said mist producingunits.
 16. The play set, as recited in claim 14, further comprising atleast a mist control for adjusting a mist pattern produced by said mistproducing units.
 17. A method of providing a cooling effect for a playset comprising a framework on a playground, comprising the steps of: (a)defining a mist surrounding area for producing mist over the playgroundby providing one or more mist producing units along said framework ofsaid play set; (b) enabling water flowing from a water source through awater channel of said mist frame unit; and (c) producing mist by saidmist producing units at said mist surrounding area over said playground.18. The method, as recited in claim 17, further comprising a step ofshading said play set by mounting a sunshade unit onto said play set.19. The method, as recited in claim 17, further comprising a step ofadjusting a mist pattern of said mist produced by said mist producingunits by means of at least a mist control.
 20. The method, as recited inclaim 18, further comprising a step of adjusting a mist pattern of saidmist produced by said mist producing units by means of at least a mistcontrol.